Nara | Travel Guide
Most international tourists who come to Japan have heard about Nara, one of Japan’s oldest historic capital cities. There are many famous temples in the city and in the prefecture, with the best-known one being the Todai-ji temple. This temple has one of the largest wooden buildings in the world on its grounds. But there is more to see in Nara, so let this travel guide help you out.
Nara also boasts beautiful large parks, in some of which you can meet cute deer who may beg you for some crackers. They make for some great travel pictures! Lovers of Japanese gardens will also like Nara, as there are several beautiful gardens in the city.
Horyuji Temple
Horyu-ji was founded in 607 by Prince Shotoku. The temple has the oldest wooden buildings in the world. Hōryū-ji was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Nara National Museum
Nara National Museum is located in Nara Park where there are also some famous temples such as Todaiji Temple and Kohukuji. It exhibits mainly Buddhist art.
Kofukuji Temple
Kofukuji Temple was moved to its current location in Nara from Kyoto in 710, the year when the capital was moved to Nara, as the main temple of the Fujiwara family.
Kasuga Taisha
Kasuga Taisha Shrine was founded in the 8th century by the Fujiwara family and used to be completely rebuilt every 20 years, according to Shinto tradition, until the end of the 14th century.
Hasedera Temple in Nara
Various kinds of flowers blooming through the year on Hasedera's grounds, the temple has been nicknamed 'Flower temple' since ancient times. I especially love to visit the Hasedera to view the Ajisai, hydrangea in the early summer season.
Nara Mantoe Matsuri Festival
August 15th is a special day for the Japanese as it is the anniversary of the end of World WarⅡand it is also the last day of the Bon holiday on which it is believed that ancestors’ spirits that came back to this world go back to the netherworld again. On this day, an annual event called Mantoe is held at night in the Todaiji temple in Nara.
